Portland Public Library

Early, an intimate history of premature birth and what it teaches us about being human, Sarah DiGregorio

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages [313]-336) and index

contains biographical information

index present

non fiction

Early

bibliography

1096344704

Sarah DiGregorio

an intimate history of premature birth and what it teaches us about being human

Inspired by Sarah DiGregorio's harrowing experience giving birth to her premature daughter, Early is a compelling and empathetic blend of memoir and rigorous reporting that tells the story of neonatology - and explores the questions raised by premature birth

Prologue: one birth -- The unexpected: millions of births. What happened? ; Treatments and outcomes ; Viability and the zone of parental discretion -- The body: incubation. The history of incubation: Coney Island, chicken eggs, and changelings ; The modern incubator, or how to build a giraffe ; The incubators of the future: babies in bags -- The breath: treating respiratory distress. Dr. Mildred Stahlman and the miniature iron lung ; Dr. Maria Delivoria-Papadopoulos and the rugged machine ; JFK's lost baby and the advent of surfactant -- The Self: protecting the premature brain. The revolutionary practice of listening to preemies ; Follow-up care: preemie development beyond the NICU -- The threshold: end-of-life issues at birth. What should we do for 22-week babies? ; Knowing when to stop ; Choice, decisions, and the messiness of real life -- The crisis: the body under stress. Racism causes preterm birth ; What prematurity means in Mississippi ; Group prenatal care and the power of community -- The invisibles: breaking the silence. The hidden trauma of prematurity ; Grown preemies speak for themselves -- Epilogue

Intimate history of premature birth and what it teaches us about being human